Commercial Services
Kitchen Exhaust Fan Cleaning in the Bay Area
NFPA 96 compliant service for restaurants and commercial kitchens across all 9 Bay Area counties, scheduled after hours.
What Is Kitchen Exhaust Fan Cleaning?
The exhaust fan on your roof is what pulls smoke and grease out of the kitchen. Every bit of grease that makes it past the filters and through the duct passes through that fan, and a lot of it sticks to the blades and housing.
Exhaust fan cleaning means degreasing the fan blades, wheel, housing and curb so the fan stays balanced and keeps moving air the way it was designed to. Where the fan design allows, we hinge it open to clean both sides.
Why It Matters for Fire Safety and NFPA 96
A grease-coated fan is a fire hazard at the very end of your system, sitting on your roof. Heavy buildup also throws the fan out of balance, which can make it noisy, wear out the bearings and reduce airflow, so the kitchen gets hotter and smokier.
NFPA 96 includes the exhaust fan as part of the system to be cleaned. A cleaning that stops at the ceiling is not a complete job.
Our Process, Step by Step
- 1
Shut down safely
We switch off and lock out the fan before anyone touches it.
- 2
Open the fan
On hinged upblast fans we tilt the fan open to reach the wheel, blades and the inside of the housing.
- 3
Scrape and degrease
Heavy deposits are scraped off and degreaser is applied to the blades, wheel, housing and curb.
- 4
Rinse and contain
We pressure rinse the fan and capture the runoff so grease does not end up on your roof membrane.
- 5
Check and restart
We close the fan, restart it and check that it spins freely and runs smoothly, noting any belt or bearing issues for you.
Signs You Need Exhaust Fan Cleaning
- Grease is visible around the fan or pooling on the roof
- The fan is louder than usual, rattles or vibrates
- Smoke is hanging in the kitchen even with the hood on
- The fan has never been opened during a past cleaning
Documentation You Receive
After every job you get a before-and-after photo report showing the work, a certificate of performance listing what was cleaned and when, and a dated sticker on your hood. Keep them on file for your local fire inspector, your insurance carrier and your landlord.
Exhaust Fan Cleaning FAQs
Do you repair exhaust fans?
We clean fans and check how they run. If we see a worn belt, failing bearing or other problem, we note it in your report so you can have it repaired.
Why does my fan need a hinge kit?
A hinge lets the fan tilt open safely so the inside can be cleaned. If your fan doesn't have one, we'll note it in the report.
Is fan cleaning included in a hood cleaning?
Yes. A complete exhaust cleaning covers the hood, filters, duct and rooftop fan. We can also clean the fan on its own if needed.
More Services and Service Areas
See every service on our commercial services overview.